YOUR anonymous correspondent (Letters, November 30) is mistaken in believing that City of York Council’s river cleaning boat on the River Foss has been used only once since it was purchased.

The River Foss Society would agree that the boat isn’t used as often as we would wish. Nevertheless, Foss Society members, together with council staff, have been out on the boat twice in the past year collecting rubbish from the river between Castle Mills and Monk Bridge, while other volunteers cleared the banks up as far as Yearsley Bridge. On one occasion, we were joined by York Viking Rotary Club members. We plan to carry on this work next year, but litter picking is not all we do.

The society welcomes new members to support its programme of walks, talks on all aspects of the river, and behind-the-scenes work to help care for the Foss and its environs. If you cherish the river, contact us via our website riverfosssociety.co.uk – you will be most welcome.

Mark Gladwin, Huntington Road, York